North Korean leader Kim Jong Un announces his backing of Russian President Vladimir Putin
In recent developments, the relationship between North Korea and Russia has shown a significant deepening, particularly in military and reconstruction areas. This comes ahead of the highly anticipated meeting between US President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin.
The latest milestone in this strengthening alliance was a phone call between Kim Jong Un and Vladimir Putin, which was reported by the North Korean news agency KCNA. The conversation took place in a "warm, comradely atmosphere," but the specific details of their discussion regarding cooperation were not disclosed.
This is not the first time North Korea's direct involvement in the ongoing war in Ukraine has been confirmed. In April, North Korea acknowledged for the first time that it had deployed soldiers to the front lines in Ukraine. Recent reports suggest that Pyongyang has provided troops and weapons to Moscow for the conflict.
The relationship between the two nations appears to be increasingly supportive and cooperative. In fact, Russian Security Council Secretary Sergei Shoigu visited Pyongyang three times within three months in mid-2025, each time received personally by Kim Jong Un, signaling close diplomatic ties with direct leadership involvement from the North Korean side.
Moreover, North Korea has provided substantial military assistance to Russia, including dispatching combat engineers (reported initially to be around 6,000 troops, with later reports suggesting more than 10,000 North Korean troops deployed to support Russia). This military cooperation and support are noteworthy, especially in the context of the ongoing Ukraine conflict.
While North Korea's media maintains a controlled narrative emphasizing Kim's personal leadership, Russian sources reveal that North Korea is receiving significant compensation for its support, likely to reinforce the alliance without appearing as war-driven dependence.
This unlawful military cooperation between Russia and North Korea has not gone unnoticed. The UN Security Council’s Multilateral Sanctions Monitoring Team, established in 2024, reported on the cooperation, noting DPRK arms transfers to Russia and Russian military training of North Korean troops. This cooperation faces sanctions-related opposition, especially from Western countries.
Despite international scrutiny and sanctions, North Korea and Russia have maintained their close partnership. For instance, North Korea did not attend the Moscow 80th Victory Day parade in May 2025, but maintained its "blood alliance" stance with Russia, differentiating this relationship from other countries attending, suggesting a unique close partnership based on historic ties and ongoing collaboration.
The alliance between North Korea and Russia could shape new security and cooperation frameworks in Northeast Asia, potentially altering regional dynamics. Analysts suggest that this alliance could have significant geopolitical implications, particularly in the context of the ongoing war in Ukraine and the forthcoming Trump-Putin meeting.
It is important to note that Donald Trump is not directly involved in the recent developments between Russia and North Korea. However, he is expected to try to pressure Putin to end the war in Ukraine at the summit on Friday.
As the world watches the evolving relationship between North Korea and Russia, it remains to be seen how these developments will impact the upcoming Trump-Putin meeting and the broader geopolitical landscape.
References:
- NK News
- Reuters
- The Diplomat
- KCNA
- AP News
The European Union, in light of the deepening relationship between North Korea and Russia, may deem it necessary to discuss this alliance in general news and politics forums, as well as in the context of the EU's nuclear programme, given the potential geopolitical implications. The escalating military cooperation between Russia and North Korea, particularly in the ongoing Ukraine conflict, has not only raised concerns among Western countries, but also the UN Security Council’s Multilateral Sanctions Monitoring Team, resulting in scrutiny and sanctions-related opposition.
